Group Occupying School Warn Of ‘Itchy Trigger Finger’

<> on April 11, 2013 in Pompano Beach, Florida.File photo of a person firing a gun. (Photo by Joe Raedle/Getty Images)

Seattle (CBS SEATTLE) — A community group refusing to leave a Seattle Public School-owned building has reportedly warned a local television station that someone inside might have a firearm.

KIRO 7 television reports that someone inside the currently occupied building left a voicemail after a photographer for the station shined a video camera light on Saturday night.

“I was wondering if you could tell your cameraman to please turn his light off because we thought it was the police and our guy up on the roof, he’s got an itchy trigger finger,” the man in the message said. “So if you would please turn that off, that’d be great.”

The group – which barricaded themselves in the school in August amid calls for programs for black students — posted an event on Facebook for Nov. 8 writing, “Seattle Police Department threatens raid of Horace Mann building today at 6pm. Stand in support of justice, equity and MORE for MANN. Bring your cameras.”

The group had received an order to vacate the school building on Nov. 7, but as of Saturday night police efforts to remove the group had not occurred. Earlier in the day, the group wheeled in a generator after power to the building had been cut off.

The MORE for MANN page description states: “Everyone has the right to education. Education shall be free, at least in the elementary and fundamental stage.”

The page features photos of “Do not trespass” and “Decolonize schools now” signs.

A district spokeswoman told KIRO that anyone at Horace Mann is trespassing and police are still working to remove the group.

The district said that its looking to turn the building into a new alternative high school, and construction delays are costing taxpayers around $1,000 each day – or about $53,000 to date.

A member of the community activist group told KIRO they have no plans to leave: “We’re going to court on this.”